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LOS ANGELES –– Hockey’s most bitter international rivalries have been described as “war on ice,” but Tuesday’s match between the U.S. and Canadian Women’s National Teams came with a teddy-bear-toss twist and an uplifting vibe just four days ahead of training camp’s opening in a new women’s pro league.
The Americans prevailed, 5-2, behind two goals by Gabby Hughes and a multipoint effort from Alex Carpenter, the daughter of former Kings forward Bobby Carpenter. She had a goal and an assist on Hannah Bilka’s tally. Britta Curl also lit the lamp, while captain Hilary Knight chipped in two assists and likely future captain Taylor Heise had a helper. Nicole Hensley halted 23 pucks, besting Kristen Campbell in the goaltending matchup.
For Canada, Laura Stacey and Jamie Lee Rattray each tallied unassisted off U.S. turnovers, with Stacey’s goal coming shorthanded.
Team USA earned the afternoon’s first score to send the stuffed animals skyward as part of a benefit for children in need. During a two-woman advantage, Hilary Knight worked the puck low to Abby Roque, whose centering attempt banked off Campbell and came to Carpenter for a short-range marker. It was the first of five goals for the Americans in a match in which they never trailed, giving them a 2-0 lead in the seven-game exhibition series.
The U.S. won the first game 3-1 in Arizona. This year’s series, which has run almost uninterrupted since 2018, has particular significance because of the imminent inauguration of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, a new entity with higher salaries and a stronger infrastructure than its predecessors.
While the two most dominant programs internationally remained foes Saturday, the majority of participants in the series (36 players) had a chance to become teammates on Nov. 15 when the PWHL opens training camp for its six franchises.
“It’s way more put-together and way more stable than any leagues that we’ve had before,” Carpenter said. “Going to New York, there’s so many players on Canada who I’m going to be teammates with in a few days, it’s going to be super exciting to be with them and not against them.”
The Rivalry Series has typically been pointed to as evidence that women’s hockey can entertain and, in turn, be profitable at the pro level in North America. While the crowd populated the seats much more modestly than in the record-setting match in Anaheim in 2020 and even during last year’s post-pandemic affair in this very same building, there was no shortage of twinkles in eyes and jerseys on backs as aspiring players and fans alike enjoyed some of the top competitors in the sport today gliding gracefully about the ice. Local women’s youth hockey programs like the L.A. Lions, Lady Ducks and even the S.D. Angels were well represented.
The diversity on display went beyond gender Saturday, when the University of Wisconsin’s Laila Edwards became the first Black woman to earn a cap for the U.S. women’s national team (Los Angeles native Brooke White-Lancette was a Black forerunner in the program). Edwards hails from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the same town as the NFL’s Kelce Brothers, who shouted her out on their podcast. She’s also had considerable support from Black women pioneers in her own sport, like former player and current Kings scout Blake Bolden.
“I had a ton of excitement, playing at the best level, with and against the best players, was a lot of fun. I got out there a little bit and that was fun, too, it was a good learning experience,” Edwards said.
For Canada, Sophie Jaques, from Toronto and then Ohio State, made her debut, adding to a short but illustrious list of Black Canadian players that included hall of famer Angela James as well as Sarah Nurse, who skated for Canada Saturday.
“I remember meeting Laila when she was maybe 12 years old,” Nurse said. “Being able to see her from that small and see how she’s grown into this 6-foot, awesome hockey player has been pretty cool. I’m very proud of her, and Sophie Jaques as well, making her debut today.”
Next up, the two sides will clash in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, on Dec. 14. Canada won both clashes north of the border last year, winning 5-1 and 5-0 in two games in Quebec to wrap up their series rally.
“Dropping the first leg of the series is not something that we want to do, but obviously we know that we have the capabilities to come back and win the series,” Nurse said.
For the U.S., Coach John Wroblewski said he was proud of how a young U.S. club handled a seasoned group of Canadians and spoke briefly about the relationship between its leader, Knight, and her heir apparent, Weise.
“They’ve sort of synced up together. They train in Minnesota. Taylor’s from there but Hilary had moved there the last few years,” said Wroblewski, who coached in the Kings’ system previously. “Hilary brought it up to me, the idea of them playing on a line together, so it’s definitely sort of an understudy situation.”
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